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The Punisher: Inspiration for the Police and the US Military

The Punisher: Inspiration for the Police and the US Military

Posted by Stephen T on September 03, 2018

Do you remember when you last saw the Punisher Logo?

The Punisher logo is a common symbol seen on T-shirts and hats, and even bumper stickers and wheel covers.

But other than Marvel’s popular character, The Punisher, do you know what the symbol means and why soldiers in the U.S. Military love it?

One word: Justice

But first, let’s start from the beginning.

The Punisher Logo Structure

Man has been using skulls throughout antiquity to intimidate enemies, to warn off danger, to beckon the morally questionable, and to mark our death vaults.

It’s hard not to react when viewing a human skull.

After all, it’s a direct confrontation of our own mortality.

The only way to see a skull is after death and after decomposition.

That’s pretty profound.

Our depictions of Death, or the Grim Reaper, always include a skeleton. Interestingly enough, the Grim Reaper also symbolizes a wisdom (as spooky as it sounds).

Death knows when and how our lives will end.

We have long placed a lot of emphasis on the human skull for more than 10,000 years.

In some ancient cultures, elders would even elongate the skulls of certain infants to improve their social status. The elongated skulls would create an impressive display in life and an extreme skull after death.

Cunning use of skulls catapulted some of the greatest military machines to legendary status.

Ancient Roman head hunters would gather the heads of fallen enemies and gladiators and display them in open pits to strike terror in their enemies and the local populace.

The Incas sacrificed the leaders of their foes and then turned their skulls into elaborate drinking cups. Genghis Khan built towers made with the skulls of his

The skull continues to pop up in modern culture.

Which brings me to the Punisher Logo.

Enter Frank Castle and His Punisher Logo

The skull continues to pop up in modern culture, as well. Fast forward to 1974, when Marvel Comics first introduced the Punisher in The Amazing Spider Man, #129.

Written by Gerry Conway and with help from Stan Lee, we meet Frank Castle, a Marine veteran with Special Forces training. The story starts with Frank witnessing a mob executing a family in Central Park.

Outraged, Frank launches into a full-fledged vigilante hell bent on killing criminals where he finds them. Frank decorates a black shirt with a large modified white skull with elongated teeth emblazed on the front of the shirt.

Since his introduction, The Punisher continues as one of Marvel’s most popular heroes. Multiple comics, four movies, and a current Netflix series showcase Frank Castle’s strict code of right and wrong.

Fans love Frank Castle or the Punisher.

Balanced by a sympathetic back-story, his unabashed proclivity to use violence serves to strengthen his moral code. Frank didn’t start out as a bad guy, and he didn’t ask to be a hero, but he understands that he had to step up to defend the innocent.

Why We Like the Punisher

The Punisher isn’t a super hero.

He’s a straight-up hero.

A man of flesh and blood who uses the tools he knows, the ones he trained to handle while in the Special Forces. He uses handguns, sniper rifles, knives, grenades, and even his own bare hands if he must to wreak justice on criminals.

Since Colonial times, the American military has used skull imagery to adorn their equipment, and that tradition continues today with incorporation of the Punisher skull.

Navy SEAL Team 3 sniper Chris Kyle received several awards for acts of heroism spread across for tours of the war in Iraq. He was one of many SEALS who painted the Punisher symbol on his weapon and vehicle. Chris Kyle loved the Punisher emblem so much that he used it in the logo for the company he started after he left the service.

The Punisher symbol also signifies brotherhood.

Frank Castle’s life is colored by his time in the service. His military code dictates accountability and responsibility, and that’s only the beginning of what drives him.

Guided by strength, perseverance, tenacity, and decisiveness, Castle’s dedication to freedom and justice draws parallels to many who serve in the military.

Does the Punisher drive you?

The Punisher is a Common Soldier

Castle’s ambivalent relationship with the military parallels the experience of many who have served.

On one hand Frank hates the immoral bureaucrats who send naïve soldiers into war. On the other hand Frank loves his fellow brother warriors who have helped him cope with the bitter realities of the service. The brotherhood remains as he faces the tragic realities when he returns home from service.

The Punisher logo serves as bond of brotherhood for those in service. A reminder that those who serve are not alone, that they stand beside brothers and sisters in service.

The Punisher logo is often symbolized with red or with blue. The red line signifies the thin red line of courage of firefighters and the blue line recognizes law enforcement officers.

Another meaning for the blue line on the Punisher logo is to honour those who fell in the line of duty.

But what about criticisms of the Punisher Logo?

Everyone’s Got an Opinion About the Punisher

Yes, there has been criticism about using the Punisher logo, especially for law enforcement agencies.

Police forces in New York and Kentucky put the Punisher logo on their squad cars and they’ve gotten a lot of reaction to it. The stated reason for the logo addition was to celebrate the Blue Lives Matter movement, which advocates for the safety of police.

Critics say the emblem is the logo of a criminal, a vigilante who operates outside the law. The argument is that it is not an appropriate symbol for the police to use.

Most officers disagree, however. They state that the Punisher logo serves as a warning to criminals that if they’re committing violent acts, the police are coming for them.

But despite criticism, there’s no doubt the Punisher symbol has meaning.

First and foremost, when criminals see that skull on the Punisher’s shirt, they know justice is coming. The skull elicits fear and those long, ugly teeth are likely the last thing the criminal will see, too.

Military personnel and law enforcement enjoy using the Punisher symbol for these same reasons: “Justice is coming, and it’s starting with me.”

Whether you think the Punisher logo is totally badass or a totally bad idea, it’s here for the long run. Frank Castle settles wrongs. Ask any cop or service member who’s seen bad guys walk, and you can understand the Punisher’s appeal.

What do you think about the Punisher Logo? Do you wear the Punisher Logo with pride?